Durham are bracing themselves for the possibility that England international Paul Collingwood will miss the entire season with a shoulder injury.

Durham are bracing themselves for the possibility that England international Paul Collingwood will miss the entire season with a shoulder injury.

The all-rounder will have an operation next Tuesday and until then coach Martyn Moxon said there is no exact estimate on how long his recovery time will be.

But the Yorkshireman admitted the injury would take between two and five months to heal, leaving the distinct possibility that Collingwood will miss the entire county and international campaign.

Moxon said: "He is having an operation on Tuesday to repair the damage to the cartilage in the shoulder and we will have a better idea then. But it is looking like a case of months rather than weeks, to be honest. I'd estimate it will be between two and five months before he is fit again.

"It's a massive blow for him and us. He was looking very good in pre-season and he had started to have a real presence about him when he was at the crease, which is something all great players have.

"He has started to become a very, very good cricketer and we will miss him, there is not much more we can say."